Indianapolis

Informally referred to as "Indy," Indianapolis is the most populous city in the state of Indiana as well as the seat of Marion County. It is also the state capital of Indiana. The combined population of Indianapolis and Marion County in the year 2020 was reported by the United States Census Bureau to be 977,203 people. It was determined that the "balance" population of Marion County, which does not include the semi-autonomous municipalities, was 887,642. It is the city with the 15th most people living in it in the United States, the third most people living in the Midwest after Chicago and Columbus, Ohio, and the fourth most people living in a state capital after Phoenix, Austin, Texas, and Columbus. There are 2,111,040 people living in the metropolitan area of Indianapolis, making it the 33rd most populated metropolitan statistical area in the United States. With a total population of 2,431,361, it holds the 28th spot as the most populous combined statistical area. The land area of Indianapolis is 368 square miles (950 km2), which places it as the 18th biggest city by land size in the United States.

As far back as 10,000 B.C., native peoples were already calling this region home. The Treaty of St. Mary's was signed in 1818, and as part of it, the Lenape gave up their tribal territories. Indianapolis was established in 1821 as a planned city to serve as the location of the new state capital of Indiana. Alexander Ralston and Elias Pym Fordham were the ones responsible for laying out the city's grid, which was a mile square (or 2.6 square kilometres) in size and was located near to the White River. Later on, the city's status as an industrial and transportation centre was cemented when the National and Michigan highways were finished, and when rail service was established. The city is also known as the "Railroad City" and the "Crossroads of America," both of which are nicknames that refer to its historical connections to transportation. Since the amalgamation of the city and county governments in 1970, also known as Unigov, the management of the local government has been carried out under the guidance of an elected city-county council that consists of 25 members and is led by the mayor.

Manufacturing, trade, transportation, and utilities, professional and business services, education and health services, government, and leisure and hospitality are the primary contributors to the economy of the 29th largest economic region in the United States, which is anchored by the city of Indianapolis. The city is known for its prominence in the niche sectors of amateur sports and motor racing. The city is home to numerous notable institutions, including three Fortune 500 corporations, two major league sports teams (the Colts and the Pacers), five university campuses, and several museums, one of which is the biggest children's museum in the world. However, the city is most likely best known for yearly holding the Indianapolis 500, which is the single-day athletic event that holds the record for the most participants. Indianapolis is home to the biggest collection of monuments devoted to war fatalities and veterans in the United States outside of Washington, D.C., and is home to a number of historic sites and districts as well.